Cash-strapped Malawi quit Nations Cup

Cup Competitions / 12 March 2014, 7:45pm

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DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 04, Match ball during the Absa Premiership match between Maritzburg United and Platinum Stars at Harry Gwala Stadium on December 04, 2012 in Durban, South Africa
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SOCCER-AFRICA-MALAWI

BLANTYRE, Malawi March 12 Sapa-AFP

FOOTBALL: CASH-STRAPPED MALAWI QUIT NATIONS CUP

Cash-strapped Malawi have withdrawn from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying competition, the national football association said Wednesday.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu told reporters in commercial capital Blantyre that a shortage of government funding meant the country could enter only one CAF competition.

And FAM chose the African youth championship over the Cup of Nations following a government request to prioritise development.

"We prioritised the youth championship over the Cup of Nations because our government has stressed the need for football development," explained Nyamilandu.

Malawi were not among 21 countries exempt from a three-round qualifying competition ahead of the final group phase to decide which teams advance to the 2015 tournament in Morocco.